Welcome to the BCS championship race, Oklahoma. At 4-0 with a road win over Notre Dame, we know the Sooners are for real and the current class of the Big 12.

It might be a while before we learn who their top competition will be.

The Big 12 is a jumbled mess. Baylor and Texas Tech are undefeated, but the Bears haven’t played anyone of note and the Red Raiders might get to 7-0 before they are challenged. Oklahoma State looked like a contender until it stubbed its toe at West Virginia. The Mountaineers looked hapless until they upset the Cowboys. Who knows what to make of Texas, Kansas State and TCU?

As conference games become the norm, the league appears wide open.

“There is more parity than ever,” Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. “Week to week, games change. You can’t get a read on teams by looking at scores when people play other teams. It’s so different than it has been in forever in college football. It is filled with parity. You have to be ready to play each week.”

Gundy was reminded of that message on Saturday, when West Virginia bounced back from a 37-0 loss against Maryland with a 30-21 victory over Oklahoma State. Just like that, the trajectories of two teams were changed.

Now the Cowboys will try to prove the loss, which was filled with turnovers and uninspiring offense, was a fluke against K-State, another team out to prove it is better than its record. The Mountaineers now head to Baylor, a team out to prove its gaudy numbers can hold up against Big 12 competition.

Texas-Iowa State and TCU-Oklahoma are equally important games.

You could call this moving week for Big 12 teams. You could also call it identity week. We are about to learn a lot about the conference.

Pushing the right buttons

When West Virginia failed to compete against Maryland two weeks ago, some wondered if Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen might soon be coaching for his job.

Things certainly were going downhill in Morgantown. West Virginia lost six of last eight games last season following a red-hot start. Then it looked inept in its first four games. Not a good combination.

But Holgorsen gave himself room to breathe with an important win over Oklahoma State. He earned trust with his players a week ago by handling the poor start with class.

“There’s plenty of blame to go around,” Holgorsen said of the Maryland loss last week. “The one that can be blamed more than anybody is me, that’s for dang sure. That was not an acceptable performance. ... We’re not clicking, and that falls 100 percent on me.”

When asked about poor quarterback play, he once again absorbed the blame.

“I see bigger issues,” Holgorsen said. “The bigger issue is me. I’ve got to do a better job on all three sides of the ball.”

His team clearly appreciated Holgorsen’s approach and responded with its best overall effort. It will be interesting to see the way he approaches the next game at Baylor.

Good response, bad response

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini made headlines recently for firing back at critical comments from a former Nebraska star.

“We don’t need him,” Pelini said.

That reaction didn’t sit well with Nebraska fans, considering the former player Pelini was referring to was popular standout quarterback Tommie Frazier. Imagine Bill Snyder saying the same about Michael Bishop or Art Briles suggesting Baylor didn’t need Robert Griffin III. Not a good look.

Texas coach Mack Brown was in a similar situation on Monday. Former Texas running back Earl Campbell suggested it was time for Brown to be fired over the weekend.

Brown’s response: “He’ll always be welcome at our school. I’m disappointed in his comments, but he’s entitled to his opinion.”